Coal-handling apparatus.



1. M. McCL ELLON. COAL HANDLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 1AN.I4, l9i5.

Patented Dec. 19,1916.

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J. M. McCLELLON.

GOAL HANDLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. I4. I915.

1 ,208,996. Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

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.M% James M.MCC|BHOTI,

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COAL-HANDLING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

Application filed. January 14, 1915. Serial No. 2,240.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES M. MoCLELLoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Everett, county of Middlesex, State of lviassachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Coal-Handling Apparatus, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to coal-handling apparatus of that type which is used for delivering coal to and removing it from a storage area, and it has for its object to provide a novel construction which facilitates the delivery of the coal to any desired part of the storage area, and which can be used while coal is being removed from the storage space.

In coal-handling apparatus which is used for delivering coal to or taking itfrom a coal storage space it is customary to deliver the coal to the storage space by means of cars or other conveying means which are operated on a track extending alongside of the storage space and usually mounted on a trestle. These cars are frequently operated by means of an endless cable and receive their coal from coal towers or from hoisting apparatus carried by a bridge which operates over the storage space or from some other source of supply. Where the apparatus is used in connection with a bridge which spans the storage space, as is commonly done, this trestle frequently carries two connected tracks over which cars may run, and when the apparatus is used for delivering coal into the storage space the cars filled with coal pass along one track and discharge their contents into said storspace, and after being emptied they return on the other track to the source of supply from which they are filled again. In a device of this nature it is customary to provide a chute located at a fixed point on the trestle into'which the cars discharge their contents, a conveyer being sometimes provided to carry the coal from the chute into the storage space. Where this chute and distributing conveyer are fixed to the trestle the coal can be unloaded from the cars traveling thereover at a fixed point only. On the other hand, when this apparatus as heretofore constructed is used for taking coal from storage, the empty cars to be. fille are p pelled along; one track n as they pass under the bridge they are filled from a grab or other hoisting device operat ing on the bridge and then pass along the track to the place where they are to be discharged, said cars returning along the other track into position to be filled again. In each of the above operations 'both tracks have been used for the cars making the circuit, but as apparatus of this type has heretofore been constructed, it has not been possible to perform but one of these operations at a time, that is, it has been possible to use the apparatus either for delivering coal into the storage space or for taking coal out from the storage space, but not for performing both operations simultaneously.

One of the objects of myinvention is to provide a novel coal-handling apparatus of this nature by which it is possible to deliver coal to one partof the storage space and at the same time be taking coal out from another part of the storage space and to accomplish both of these operations by the same set of cars traveling around the two tracks.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this nature which is sufficiently flexible so that the coal can be delivered from the cars on the trestle to the storage space at any point along the length of the track, and can thus be discharged into any desired part of the storage space.

With my invention, therefore, it is possible to be delivering one kind of coal to one part of the storage space and at the same time to be removing another kind of coal from another part of the storage space with the same cars, thus greatly facilitating the handling of coal on a large scale.

I accomplish these ends by providing a discharge conveyer mounted to move longitudinally of the storage space and by providing a discharging section of track which is movable with the conveyer longitudinally of thestorage space and is arranged so that the cars traveling over the conveyer are automatically diverted onto this discharging section of track, said cars being discharged of their contents while on said section. Means are associated with this discharging section of track to direct the discharged contents of each car onto a discharging conveyer which takes said contents and delivers them to the storage space. Thus provision is made for discharging the contents of the cars to any part o th t age space, and this operation can be carried out independently of and simultaneously with the operation of removing coal from some other part of the storage space into the same cars from which the coal is being discharged.

Inorder to give an understanding of my invention I have illustrated herein some se lected embodiments of-the invention which will now be described after which the novel features will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a view more or less in diagram showing a coal storage space with a coal-handling bridge spanning said space and also showing one form of my improved unloading apparatus; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a different form of the invention; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the discharging section of track; Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line w0a, Fig, 5; Fig. 5 is a section on the line ;1 Fig. 4, Figs. 4 and 5 both showing a different arrangement of discharging track section from that shown in Fig. 3.

Referring first to the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, T have illustrated at 1 a coal storage space along one side of which extends a trestle 2 having tracks 3 and 4 thereon on which operate cars 6. The tracks 3 and 4 may be connected at their ends, thus forming an endless track as usual in coalhandling apparatus of this type so that the cars 6 which pass over the track 4 will pass around the loop connecting the tracks 3 and 4 and will then be returned along the track 3, and after making the circuit will eventually move along over track 4 again. The cars 6 may be propelled on the tracks 3 and 4 by any suitable means. In devices of this nature it is common to employ an endless cable for this purpose, and the cars 6 will be carried around the endless track at some point of which they will receive coal from a source of supply. In Fig. 1 I have also shown at 7 a coal-handling bridge which spans the storage space 1 and is mounted on tracks 8 and 9', said bridge having a hoisting bucket or grab 10 thereon and suitable mechanism (not shown) for actuating said bucket by which coal can be taken from the storage space 1 and carried to either end of the bridge and discharged into either one of the hoppers 11 and 12. The hopper 11 is shown as adapted to deliver its contents to cars 13 operating on a track 14 and the hopper 12 is shown as being adapted to deliver its contents either to the cars 6, as they pass along the track 3, or to cars 15 operating on the track 16. The parts thus far described are or may be all as usual in coal-handling apparatus of this type and as their operation is well known further description thereof is not necessary.

In the illustration shown in Fig. 1 the discharging conveyer is shown at 17, it being mounted upon a frame or bridge 18 which is arranged to travel longitudinally of the storage space 1 upon tracks 19. This auxiliary or conveyer bridge 18 is made sufficiently smaller than the coal-handling bridge 7 so that it can pass beneath the bridge 7. This conveyer 17 is shown ashaving an inclined portion 20 onto which the coal is delivered from the car 6 and a horizontal por- .tion 21 extending over the storage space 1 and from which the coal is delivered to the storage space. The bridge 18, it will be noted, is movable longitudinally of the storage space and can, therefore, be used at any point along the length of the storage space. I have provided a novel construction by which the cars 6 can be discharged onto the receiving portion 20 of the conveyer 17 at any point along the track 4. This is accomplished by providing a discharging track section 23 which is associated with the bridge 18 and is arranged to have the cars 6 passing along the track 4 diverted thereonto. As seen best in Fig. 3 this discharging track sec tion 23 is mounted on a suitable support carried by the bridge 18, and this track sec tion 23 is provided with switch points 25 that overlie the rails of the track 4 and act as means to divert a car traveling over a track onto the track section 23. here the cars 6 on the track 4 are propelled by an endless cable 28, I propose to provide the track section 23 with direction pulleys 27 by which the cable 28 is diverted from the track 4 along the track section 23. The construction is such that as the bridge 18 is moved longitudinally of the storage space the switch points 25 will follow along on the rails of the track 4 and the direction pulleys 27 will keepthe cable 28 diverted onto said track section. Associated with the track section 23 is a hopper or chute 30 into which the contents of a car 6 on the track section 23 may be discharged. Said hopper or chute is 1 shown as having side walls 31 and a hopperlike bottom which is shaped to present a chute 32 which delivers the coal to the receiving portion 20 of the conveyer 17. With the apparatus described in Fig. 1 the cars 6 traveling on the track 4 which carry the coal that is to be delivered to the storage space, are automatically diverted onto the track section 23, and as they pass through the receiving hopper 30 the contents thereof are discharged and delivered to the conveyer 17 by which said contents are delivered to the storage space 1. This construction does not interfere at all with the operation of taking coal out from the storage space, for it will be observed that this latter operation is accomplished by the grab 10 operating on the bridge 7, said grab lifting the coal from the storage space, transporting it longitudinally of {the bridge and delivering it to the hopper 12, from which it is delivered to cars 6 passing along the track 3. Since the bridge 7 isindependent from the auxiliary bridge 18, it will be seen that these two bridges can be placed at different parts of the storage space. The bridge 18, for instance, may be located at one end of the storage space whereby coal may be delivered to said end of the storage space, while the bridge 7 may be located at the other end or some other portion of the storage space and may be operating to take coal from such portion of the storage space. Thus as the cars pass down the track 4 they will be discharged of their contents at the discharging track section, and then as they pass back on the track 3, they may receive a load of coal from the grab 10. The cars thus loaded may then deliver the coal to the desired point and then move over the track to the place where they receive another load of coal to be delivered to the storage space. Thus the same cars making their circuit on the tracks 3 and 4 can be used for delivering coal to the storage space and for simultaneously taking coal from the storage space. V

In Fig. 2 I have illustrated an embodiment of the invention wherein the distributing conveyer is carried by the main bridge instead of by an auxiliary bridge. In this embodiment the main coal-handling bridge is shown at 7 a and the bucket or grab thereon is shown at 10. Said bridge is movable longitudinally of the storage space 1 on tracks 8 and 9. The trestle 2 on which the tracks 3 and 4 are sustained is situated out side of the track 9 at the end of the bridge. The distributing conveyer 17 is carried by the bridge 7* and moves therewith, and it has associated therewith the discharging track section 23 which is supported by the bridge and which moves with the bridge. The operation of discharging the coal from the car 6 is the same in the construction shown in Fig. 2 as in the construction shown in Fig. 1, that is, the cars traveling along the track 4 are diverted onto the track section 23 and are discharged thereon, the coal being directed by the hopper or chute 32 onto the receiving end 20 of the conveyer 17. With this construction it is also possible to deliver coal to one part of the storage space at the same time that coal is taken. from another part thereof by the grab 10. This can be accomplished by dividing the storage space by the partition wall 60 and delivering the coal to the portion 61 of the storage space at the left of the partition while taking coal either from the portion 62 of the storage space at the right-hand of the partition or the pile 63. This embodiment of the invention is not so flexible as the construction shown in Fig. 1, for it will not permit coal to be removed from one end of the storage space at the same time that it is delivered to the other end thereof, but it does provide means whereby coal can be delivered to one portion of the storage space at the same time that it is being taken from another portion thereof.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 I have shown a construction wherein the discharging track section 23 is situated laterally of the main track 4.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I have shown a construction wherein this discharging track section is situated above the main track 4 and in vertical line therewith. In this embodiment of the invention the discharging track section is shown at 23, and it is carried by a framework 35 provided with wheels 36 that travel on the track 4. This discharging track section 23 is also provided with switch points 2.5 that overlie the rails of the track 4 so that a car 6 traveling on the track 4 will be automatically diverted onto the track section 23. The carriage 35 may be rigidly connected with the bridge 18 so as to move therewith, or may be independent from the bridge, and said carriage has associated therewith the discharging hopper 31 and chute 32 over which the car 6 passes and by which the contents of the car are directed onto the conveyer 17. This carriage 35 will also be provided with suitable direction pulleys by which the cable 28 will be brought up over the track section 23. It will be noted that in both embodiments of my invention the car 6 to be discharged is automatically diverted from the track 4' onto a discharging track section which may be movable longitudinally of the storage space, said track section having associated therewith a discharging chute or hopper which directs the contents of the car 6 onto the. conveyer 17 or directly into the storage space. With this invention, therefore, it is possible to locate the discharge conveyer 17 at any point along the storage space 1, and to effeet the discharge of the contents of the car 6 onto said conveyer at any place where it is located.

While I have illustrated herein some selected embodiments of my invention from which the principle thereof will be readily understood, yet I do not wish to be limited to the constructional details shown.

I claim:

1. The combination with a storage space,

of a track extending along the side thereof,

a discharging track section situated out of adapted to receive material discharged from cars on the discharging track section and convey said material to the storage space.

2. The combination with a storage space, of a track extending along the side thereof, a discharging track section situated out of line with said track but connected there with at its ends, a supporting structure independent from the track on which the discharging track section is sustained, said supporting structure being movable in a direction longitudinally of the track but with out obstructing the latter, and a discharging conveyer also mounted on said supporting structure and extending over the storage space.

3. The combination with a storage space, of a track extending along the side thereof, a bridge supported independently of said track and extending over said space, a discharging track section carried by the bridge and situated out of line with said track but connected thereto at its ends, a discharging conveyer carried by the bridge and extending over the storage space, and a. hopper or chute associated with said track section and which operates to direct the contents discharged from the car onto said conveyer.

4. The combination with a storage space, of a track extending along the side thereof, a bridge movable longitudinally of the track and extending overthe storage space, said bridge being supported independently of the track, a discharging track section car- 'ried by the bridge and situated out of line with said track but connected thereto at its ends whereby cars traveling on the track will be diverted onto the track section and back onto the track again, and means carried by the bridge to carry to the storage space the contents of a car which is unloaded on said track section.

5. The combination with a storage space, of a track extending along the side thereof, a bridge supported independently of said track and movable longitudinally thereof, said bridge extending over the storage space, a discharging tracksection carried by the bridge and situated out of line with said track but connected thereto at its ends whereby cars traveling on the track will be diverted onto the track section and back onto the track again, a conveyor extending from said discharging track section over the storage space, and means to direct onto said conveyor the contents of a car which is unloaded on said track section.

6. 'The combination with a storage space, of a track extending along the side thereof,

a bridge supported independently of said track and extending over said storage space, a discharging track section carried by the bridge and situated out of line with said track but connected thereto at its ends, a discharging conveyor carried by the bridge and extending over the storage space and adapted to take material discharged from cars on the discharging track section and deliver said material to one portion of said storage space, and means capable of operating simultaneously with the discharging conveyer for taking material from another portion of said storage space and delivering it to said cars after they have been discharged.

7. The combination with a storage space, of an endless track presenting two portions extending along the side of the storage space, a bridge supported independently of said track and extending over said storage space, a discharging track section carried by the bridge and situated outo'li line with the track, but connected at its ends with one portion thereof whereby cars passing along said portion of the track will be diverted onto the discharging track section, a discharging conveyer carried by the bridge and adapted to take material discharged from cars on the discharging track section and deliver said material to one portion of the storage space, and means capable of operation simultaneously 'with the discharging conveyor for taking material from another portion of the storage space and delivering it to cars on the other portion of the track.

8. The combination with a storage space, of a track extending along the side thereof, a bridge supportedindependently of said track and extending over said storage space, a discharging track section carried by said bridge and situated out of line with said track but connected thereto at its ends, a hopper carried by the bridge and situated to receive the contents of each car as it passes over the discharging track section, said hopper having suflicient size to accommodate the entire contents of a car, and a discharging conveyer carried by the bridge and extending over the storage space and adapted to convey material from said hopper to the storage space.

In testimony whereof, I have'signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES M. MOCLELLON. lVitnesses LOUIS 0. SMITH, THOMAS J. DRUMMOND.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

